What is the current state of employee morale at Block?

Employee morale at Block has reportedly reached its lowest point in four years, with workers expressing widespread concerns about their job security and the company culture.

Why were Block employees laid off in February 2026?

Block leadership stated the layoffs were due to performance reasons and clear performance gaps, a narrative that some employees dispute.

How is generative AI affecting Block employees?

Block mandates the use of generative AI tools to boost productivity, but employees have raised concerns about its impact on code quality and engineering rigor, alongside the pressure to adopt these tools.

Home / Business and Economy / Performance Anxiety Grips Block After Firings

Performance Anxiety Grips Block After Firings

20 Feb

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Summary

Employee morale at Block has reportedly reached its lowest point.
Layoffs are attributed to performance issues, not cost-saving measures.
Generative AI adoption is mandated, causing tension with code quality.

Performance Anxiety Grips Block After Firings

Recent employee feedback indicates a sharp decline in morale at Block, the company behind Square and Cash App. Following extensive layoffs initiated in February 2026, current and former employees report rampant performance anxiety and a deteriorating internal culture. The firings, which could affect up to 10 percent of the company's 11,000 staff, have been communicated by leadership as performance-related.

Engineering lead Arnaud Weber stated in an email that departures were due to "clear performance gaps" and "alignment coming out of calibrations." However, employees shared concerns about the uncertainty of their livelihoods, making it difficult to plan personal lives. Additionally, Block's CEO, Jack Dorsey, mandates weekly updates summarized using generative AI, while employees express apprehension about the forced adoption of these tools impacting engineering rigor.

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